BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

South America is a diverse continent with much to offer. Lately all eyes have been on PERU because it has a multitude of treasures; the Amazon River, Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Machu Picchu, Mancora, Puno, Uras Islands..... The Peruvians have some of the best cuisine in the world and eating meals in Peru is an experience in itself. The national drink "Pisco Sour" is something you just have to try. Check out my recipe below. Follow me on my next post as I share the treasures of Peru and provide recipes for delicious dishes like the famous "Ceviche." Coming soon: PERU (The country of adventures and treasures) Pisco Sour 3 ounces pisco 1 ounce syrup (recipe below) 1 ounce lime juice 1 egg white Angostura BItters (2 dashes) Mix the pisco, syrup, lime juice and egg white in a cocktail shaker.  Add ice and shake. Strain in a drinking glass and sprinkle two dashes of bitters on top. Pisco Sours are great to drink anytime of year! How to make the syru...

New Yorkers are very lucky people for many reasons 1) they have New York City 2) they have Niagara Falls 3) they have the Catskills and the Hudson Valley 4) they have Long Island with the famous Hampton's not to mention Fire Island National Seashore and Montauk 5) they have 6 million acres of unspoiled Adirondack Mountains 6) they have the Thousand Islands 7) they have awesome pizza......and they have The Finger Lakes! When I first arrived in Ithaca to take a two week course at Cornell University I fell in love with this gorgeous town. In fact you'll see plenty of bumper stickers and t-shirts with the logo "Ithaca is Gorges" because the area is home to gorges. A gorge is a deep narrow passage with a rocky side and it really is gorgeous to look at. Living in this college town is a dream come true because: 1)   Cornell University and Ithaca College are here. 2)   It's a pedestrian friendly town with great biking too. 3)   The restaurants are crowd pleasers lik...

If you have two days to spare follow this "Bronx Medley." Day One: Take a bus, subway, or taxi to the Bronx Zoo and enjoy one of the largest zoos in America. Afterwards visit the New York Botanical Garden and connect with horticulture. Head over to Wave Hill  and relax on the grounds of the public gardens and cultural center. Craving pizza? Little Italy on Arthur Avenue is the answer. Giovanni makes delicious pizza that has been enjoyed by such famous folks as the New York governor and the late Mother Teresa. Day Two: Chances are that you've been so smitten by the old fashioned Italian neighborhood of "Little Italy" that you want to return. No worries there's plenty to do in the Belmont section of the Bronx known as Arthur Avenue's Little Italy. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market sells everything from hand rolled cigars to fresh pasta. Over at De Lillo's Pastry Shop you can fix your sugar cravings with marvelous desserts. (The cannoli'...

Brooklyn, the most populated borough in New York City really rocks. There are more famous Americans born in Brooklyn than anywhere else: Woody Allen, actor and filmmaker Paul Auster, author Lauren Bacall, actress Mel Brooks, director & writer Tony Danza, entertainer Harvy Eisenstat, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher George Gershwin, composer Mos Def, rapper Alyssa Milano, actress Willie Randolph Jr, New York Mets manager Joan River, comedienne Jerry Seinfeld, comedian Barbra Streisand, singer Joe Torre, New York Yankees manager Mae West, actress and a whole LOT more! PLUS these are just a handful of things to love about B R O O K L Y N.................. Bay Ridge Bensonhurst Brooklyn Heights Promenade Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Museum Brooklyn Botanical Garden Brighton Beach Carroll Gardens Historic District Coney Island & Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park Dumbo Greenwood Cemetery Junior's Cheesecake Manhattan Beach Nathan's Famous...

___________________________________________________________________________ The Upper West Side (UWS) for short, is a terrific neighborhood. I arrived her one January day to audition for the American Musical & Dramatic Academy all the way from Michigan. I didn't really plan on staying for long but as luck turns out I got accepted into the American Musical & Dramatic Academy and my first apartment was on the Upper West Side. Since than I've lived in quite a few neighborhoods but the Upper West Side is where my heart will always belong. ___________________________________________________________________________ With Central Park on one side and Riverside Park on the other, the Upper West Side is one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Manhattan. It's not unusual to see a celebrity dining in one of the area restaurants or to hear the sounds of "Juilliard"students displaying their musical talents from their apartment.  This terrific neighborhood has ...

When in Soho be certain to enter the doors of 350 Hudson Street. This is where you'll find the most irresistible chocolate desserts created by a genius pastry chef named Jacques Torres. French born Jacques Torres is known as "Mr Chocolate" and anyone who tries his chocolates dreams of eating them again and again. The first Jacques Torres opened in Brooklyn's neighborhood known as Dumbo. This is where the chocolate factory is located and where spectators can watch delectable chocolate treats being made from the windows. The adorable shop is filled with chocolate treasures. There's a cafe with tables for those that want to indulge in tasty treats right there and then. The Soho "Jacques Torres" is also very magical and is definitely worth visiting for an unforgettable chocolate experience. These are just some of the treats to be found; big daddy bars, champagne truffles, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, ice cream sandwiches and incredible ...

New York City consists of five amazing boroughs; Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Every borough has unique things to offer but MANHATTAN is where a lot of the action takes place. With so many neighborhoods to explore even New Yorkers can't always catch up with the hot local spots. Manhattan's neighborhoods are so diverse and exciting that it's worth to hit every neighborhood in a New York minute or New York day. As a concierge for a major hotel in Manhattan it was my job to know New York like the back of my hand. To this very day it's hard for me to pick my favorite Manhattan neighborhood because I'm partial to all of them. One neighborhood that's really cool to hang out in is Soho. Nestled between the West & East Village, Little Italy, and Nolita, SOHO has a multitude of trendy bars, restaurants, and shops. Once a haven for artists this expensive neighborhood with cobblestone streets is where you'll find art galleries, spacious l...